Three Rivers

Three Rivers' population grew in the 10 years leading up to 2011. At the same time there were changes in housing tenure, religion and ethnicity.

The population passed 87,000

In the 10 years leading up to 2011, the population of Three Rivers increased by 5.4%, from about 82,800 to 87,300.

The addition of almost 4,500 people means this area's population increased at a slower rate than the total population of England (up 7.9% since the 2001 census).

In 2011, Three Rivers was home to, on average, 7 people per football pitch-sized piece of land (about 7,140 square metres).

Population density was higher than the average across Eastof England

Population density (usual residents per 7,140 square metres) across Eastof England, March 2011 (larger dots represent greater increase since 2001)

Rise in private renting

Census 2011 data also show a housing tenure change in Three Rivers.

The percentage of households in Three Rivers that rented privately increased from 5.7% in 2001 to 11% in 2011.

In 2011, just over one in seven (15%) households lived in social housing, compared with 16% in 2001. The percentage of Three Rivers households that owner their home decreased from 77% to 73%.

The proportion of privately rented homes increased at a slower rate here than the figure for the whole of Eastof England (from 8.6% in 2001 to 15% in 2011). Across England, the proportion increased from 9.9% to 17%.

Private renting in Three Rivers increased by 4.9 percentage points

Percentage of households in Three Rivers, Eastof England and England that rented privately, March 2001 and March 2011

Religion in Three Rivers

The number of people in Three Rivers that described themselves as having no religion increased from just over 12,000 in 2001 to just under 20,000 in 2011. This represents a change from 15% to 23% of the local population.

The percentage increased by less than the average across Eastof England (from 17% to 28%) and the average across England (from 15% to 25%).

The number of people in Three Rivers that described themselves as Christian decreased from about 59,000 in 2001 to just over 52,000 in 2011 (from 71% to 60%). The number of people who did not disclose their religious affiliation increased from about 5,900 to about 6,100. However, as a percentage of the total population, this represented a decrease from 7.2% to 7.0%.

About 4,000 people (2.6%) said they were Hindu, up from just over 2,100 in 2001 (4.5%).

There are many factors that can cause changes to the religious profile of an area, such as migration and varying fertility rates between religious groups. Changes may also be caused by differences in the way individuals choose to self-identify between censuses.

The population without a religion in Three Rivers increased by 8 percentage points

Percentage of usual residents in England, East and Three Rivers by religion, March 2001 and March 2011

Ethnicity in Three Rivers

The number of people in Three Rivers from the Asian or Asian British ethnic groups increased from about 4,300 in 2001 to just under 8,000 in 2011. This represents a change from 5.1% to 9.2% of the local population.

The percentage increased by more than the average across Eastof England (from 2.8% to 5.0%) and the average across England (from 5.2% to 8.0%).

The number of people in Three Rivers from the White ethnic groups decreased from about 77,000 in 2001 to just over 75,000 in 2011 (from 92% to 86%). The number of residents from Mixed/multiple ethnic groups (White and Asian, White and Black African, White and Black Caribbean or Other Mixed) increased from about 1,000 to just over 2,000 (from 1.3% to 2.3%).

Just over 1,600 people (1.0%) said they were from the Black, Black British, Caribbean or African ethnic groups, up from about 830 in 2001 (1.8%).

There are many factors that can cause changes to the ethnic profile of an area, such as migration and varying fertility rates between ethnic groups. Changes may also be caused by differences in the way individuals choose to self-identify between censuses.

The population from the Asian or Asian British ethnic groups in Three Rivers increased by 4 percentage points

Percentage of usual residents in England, East and Three Rivers by ethnicity, March 2001 and March 2011

Fewer people worked long hours

The percentage of employed people in Three Rivers working more than 49 hours in the week before the census decreased from 15% to 12% in the decade to 2011.

In 2011, just over 1 in 40 (2.8%) people aged 16 to 74 (in employment the week before the Census 2011) said they had worked less than 16 hours the previous week, compared with 2.0% in 2001.

The proportion of people working long hours fell at a similar rate to the figure for the whole of Eastof England (from 15% in 2001 to 11% in 2011). Across England, the proportion fell from 13% to 10%.

Long hour working in Three Rivers decreased by 3 percentage points

Percentage of usual residents aged 16 to 74 (in employment the week before the Census 2011) in Three Rivers, Eastof England and England that said they had worked over 49 hours the week before completing the census, March 2001 and March 2011

Health improved

The percentage of Three Rivers residents that described their health as bad or very bad decreased from 6.5% to 3.9% between the last two censuses.

Rates are standardised to account for variation in age, which can impact the local population's health.

In 2011, just over 8 in 10 (85%) said their health was good or very good, compared with 74% in 2001. The percentage of Three Rivers residents that described their health as fair decreased from 20% to 11%.

The proportion of residents that perceived their health as bad or very bad fell at a similar rate to the figure for the whole of Eastof England (from 7.6% in 2001 to 4.7% in 2011). Across England, the proportion fell from 9.1% to 5.5%.

These data are people’s own opinions in describing their overall health. They may be inconsistent with other measures of health, such as NHS records.

The percentage of people in ’bad’ or ’very bad’ health in Three Rivers decreased by 2.6 percentage points

Percentage of usual residents in Three Rivers, Eastof England and England said their health was bad or very bad, March 2001 and March 2011

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Area report data

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